Bill blocked to return local control to manage homeless crisis

By Oregon House Republicans Caucus
May 21st, 2025

House Republicans forced a vote on a bill that would repeal HB 3115 (2021), which allows homeless people to live on public property, and sue cities and counties for camping enforcement policies they feel are not “objectively reasonable,” without clearly defining what that means.

“The governor is personally responsible for this policy, which for years, has been making the homeless crisis worse, while taking the power away from local leaders to restore safety to their streets,” said House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby). “We should be focusing on increasing access to treatment, not enabling tent cities and open drug use that harms communities and families, as well as those living on our streets.”

The vote on HB 2432 failed with a 28 to 24 vote. Six Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the bill that would return control to local leaders to manage the homeless crisis in their jurisdictions.

Homelessness increased by nearly 14% in Oregon from 2023 to 2024, with nearly 23,000 homeless people reported during a single night in January. In 2024, Oregon also had the second highest rate of unsheltered youth in the nation (60%) and the fourth highest rate of homeless veterans (55%).